Extension-step.



R. HILLIER.

4 EXTENSION STEP.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 24, 1915.

Patented Mar. 7, 1916.

ll IF II II J] I JIF RICHARD'I-IILLIER, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

EXTENSION-STEP.

To all wiwm it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD HILLIER, a citizen of theUnited States,residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Extension-Steps, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to what is generally known as floating platformsfor passenger coaches, and it consists in the novel features hereinafterdescribed and claimed.

An object of the invention is to provide a platform or gangway pivotallyconnected with the side of a car or coach, and having means operativelyconnecting the same with a sliding or movable door, whereby the platformis folded up against the side of the car or coach when the door is movedto a closed position, and the said platform is permitted to swing in adownward and outward direction when the door is moved from a closed toan open position.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a structure of thecharacter indi' cated, an arrangement of parts which will preventminimum obstruction to a movement of the passengers over the same whenthe platform is in a lowered position. Also the platform is brought inclose contact with the side of the door and car when the same is swungto an upper position, consequently its presence upon the car does notoffer obstruction to the movement of the car along the trackway and byobjects end is connected with the outermost section of the floatingplatform. The intermediate portion of the said flexible member istrained over a pulley mounted at the side of the car in the vicinity ofthe upper edge of the door, consequently when the door is open thefloating platform may swing in an outward and downward direction andwhen the door is moved to a closed position,

Specification of Letters Patent.

' Patented Mar. *7, 1916.

Application filed May 24, 1915. Serial No. 30,102.

the said floating platform is folded up in close proximity to the sideof the car and i the door.

In theaccompanying drawing :Figure 1 1s a side elevatlon of a portion ofa car wlth the floating platform applied. Fig. 2 is a perspective Viewof the floating platform.

Fig. 3is a transverse sectional view of the floating platform, portionof the station platform and part of the car showing the parts inposition when the upper surface of the station platform is approximatelyat the same level as the upper surface of the floor of the car or just alittle above the same. Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the relativepositions of the parts when the upper surface of the station platform isbelow the upper surface of'the floor of the car.

As illustrated in the accompanying drawing, the car body 1 may be of anyusual form or pattern employed for transporting passengers and the saidbody is provided with a sliding door 2, located at its side.

The floating platform includes a section 3 preferably of sheet metal,which is hingedly or pivotally connected with the side of the body 1approximately at the level of the floor of the body and below theopening of the door 2. The said section 3 is provided at its inner edgewith a curl 4 which is turnably mounted upon a rod 5 supported in lugs 6attached to the lower portion of the side of the body 1. The section 3is further provided at its outer or free edge with a curl 7 whichreceives and retains a rod 8. The floating platform also includes anouter or upper section 9 also of sheet metal. The section 9 is formedwith knuckles 10 which are turnably mounted upon the rod 8. Theinner-edge portion of the section 9 between the said knuckles and beyondthe same lies over and against the upper surface of the section 3 as at11 as most clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawing. A chain orflexible member is connected at one end with the outer portion of thesection 9 and at its other end with the upper portion of the door 2. Theintermediate portion of the said flexible member 12 is trained over apulley 13 which is mounted at the side of the body 1 in the vicinity ofthe upper edge of the door 2.

The parts of the structure are so arranged that when the door 2 is in aclosed position as illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawing. the sections 3and 9 of the platform are swung in an upward direction and lie in closeproximity to the side of the body 1 and theandcOnSequent'lyi'thesections 3* and 9 may" swing in a downward andoutward direction and the section 9 may'engagethe upper surface of astation platform as illustrated @in Figs! L of the drawing, Inftheeve'ntthat the upper surface of the station; plat- .form is approximately atthe same'le'vel 'as the upper surface of the floor lof theem 2 as, shownin Fig, 3the under surface of'the section 9 will'lie fiat upon the uppersurface anglebetween thesect'ionsB and 9, but 'this angle fis'fnotsufficient to cause the inner'edge "portion ll' of the section 9topi'bject-upfand lintiife-riwith t mo ement of the passengells- .QVBFthe; platform,

i In the event that the upper 7 surface of :tlie 'station'platform islower than the upper surface, of the floor of the car fasjshown inF ig.4 of the drawing, 'the inner edge portion 11 of the section' 9 willengage the upper 'surface of thefe section 3, and the said sections 3wide are thereby heldin' parallel relation and consequently the floatingplatform -assumes an a inclined I position down "which thepassengersfmay readily pass without encountering obstruction.

the invention what: is

gethe'r; one of them hingedly connected with the ear, means operativelyconnecting the platform with the car door to permit the' platform toswing in an outward and downward directlon" when the door '1 s-' opened,

"one io'f the said sections having an inner edge portion adaptedtooverlap the upper "s'u'rfa 'ce ofthe other section andwhich may engagethe last'mentioned section to 1101 fthe sectionsin parallel relation."of the st atfion'platform and there is a slight I 2. In combinationwith a car body provided with a movable door, a'fioatingplatformcomposed of sections' hingedly connected" together and one ofthesections "hingedly connected with the car body,

means operatively connecting the platform with the' door; one of thesaid sections "having its 'inner 'ed'ge portion adapted fiO'jlle overand engage the other section and: thereby hold the sections in parallelrelation.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence "of two witnesses.

RICHARD HILLIER, 'l -Vitn'esses p t J om. DoNneAN, GEOIA. BY'RNE.

"C'oii'ie's' Bf 'this'liat'nt iiiay be obtained foffiveents each, 'by'addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

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